Office hours: T 11:00-2:00, or by appointment
If you need to reach me, please e-mail ding@math.binghamton.edu.Please include [Math304] in the subject line of your email, or your email may not be read promptly.

Prerequisite

Math 221 (grade C or above).

Textbook

Linear Algebra by Matt Brin and Gerald Marchesi

This is the course text. All homework assignments will come from this book.

We plan to cover most of the material in the book, following closely the order and logic framework of the textbook.

Grading

Your grade will be computed from your scores on homework, quizzes, tests, and the final exam, weighted according to the following table.

There will be 3 tests during the semester, scheduled on weeknights. Of the three tests, we will drop your lowest score.

If you miss an exam, test or quiz, your score for that exam, test or quiz will be a zero.

Components

Dates

Percentage

Final Exam

TBA

40%

Midterm

Oct. 21

25%

Inclass Tests

TBA

20%

End Quiz

TBA

5%

Weekly Quizzes

weekly

10%

TOTAL

100%

Homework

Homework will be sent to you via email as well as posted at Homework Page.

Homework assignments will not be graded. Students are welcome to discuss the homework with the instructor during office hours.

Quizzes

There are 12 regular quizzes scheduled, one per week of class. No quiz is scheduled for a class session that is immediate after a test. Each quiz will be graded on the scale from 0 to 10.

The lowest two quiz grades will be dropped when the final total grade is calculated. Hence only 10 out of the 12 quizzes are counted.

Many of the quiz problems will be taken directly from the textbook. Note that the problems on WebWork come directly from the textbook also, and these will generally not be on the quizzes. Instead, the quiz problems will be those that do not lend themselves to automated grading.

Quizzes are always closed-booked.

No make-up is given for quizzes.

Some Deadlines

Sept. 11: Course add and drop/delete deadline.

Oct. 30: Course withdraw/change grade option deadline.

Note that a “Pass” grade in the “Pass/Fail” grade option does not count toward math degrees. If you are a math major, it is not advised to change the grade option to “Pass/Fail” unless you are ready to retake the course at a later time.

Make-ups

If you need to take a make-up, if possible, an advance request should be given. Checkable written proof to justify the request should be given.

In order to minimize the need for make-up exams and the stress of dealing with multiple exams, within the first two weeks of the semester, all students must check the exam schedules of other courses they are taking and make sure that there is no major conflict. The exam dates may be changed accordingly only if the instructor determines necessary.

Academic Dishonesty

Students found cheating will be reported to the Provost Office following the academic procedure listed in the University Bulletin. Laptop and electrical communication devices cannot be used in a quiz, test or exam. Calculator in a cellphone cannot be used. Calculators are in general not allowed.

If you are used to using calculators, you should practice on homework problems without using a calculator.

Disciplines

No laptop usage in classroom. Text messaging should be minimal. Late arrivals, early departures, cell phone conversations, eating and drinking, etc., are inappropriate behaviors. According to the Faculty-Staff Handbook, the instructor may ask those who, in the instructor’s judgment, have seriously impaired the class’s ability to achieve the objectiveness of the course, to leave the classroom.